Factory output shrinks

Manufacturing posted a quarter-on-quarter fall, latest official figures show.

Factory output contracted by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2015 compared with the first.

There was a quarterly fall of 6.4% in the coke and refined petroleum products group. Other decreases included: 2.8% in the wood, paper products and printing group and 2.1% in machinery and equipment not classified elsewhere.

Output was buoyant in transport equipment and textiles, with increases of 2.9% and 2.2% respectively.

In the second quarter of 2015, manufacturing output was up by 0.6% on the same period a year ago.

The more volatile monthly figures showed a 0.2% increase in June compared with May.

The output of production industries (manufacturing, mining and utilities) was up by 0.7% in the second quarter on the previous quarter, and up by 1.5% on the same period a year earlier.

Nevertheless, in second quarter, production and manufacturing were 9.2% and 4.8% respectively below their figures reached in the pre-downturn peak in first quarter of 2008.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_413059.pdf